Kano – Some parents in Kano State have advocated for the introduction of specialised healthcare services to enhance treatment of persons living with sickle cell ailment in the country.
A cross section of parents, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Kano, as part of activities to mark the 2020 World Sickle Cell Day.
NAN reports that the United Nations had declared June 19, to raise awareness on sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell anemia, is an inherited red blood cell disorder which prevents enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body.
Mrs Hauwa Abdulbasit, a mother whose three kids suffered the ailment, alleged that the services provided at general hospitals in the state were limited.
Abdulbasit said that that they experienced difficulties in accessing quality healthcare services as well as the needed attention during emergencies.
Mr Usman Sani, a father of a nine-year-old girl with the ailment, stressed the need for specialised sickle cell care and support services to enhance case treatment and management of the disease in health facilities in the state.
“For now most hospitals had integrated services in the facilities, thus, affected children are in need of special care.
“Lack of such specialised services resulted to untimely death of patients in emergencies.
“It is desirable for the governments at all levels to provide specialised centres to cater for the health needs of patients with the ailment,” Sani said.
Also speaking, the Chairperson, Kano state Association for Sickle Cell Patients, Ms Rukayya Kamal, noted that provision of specialised sickle cell centres would enhance access to quality healthcare services at grassroots.
Kamal also appealed to parents to know their geno-type tested before venturing into marriages, to save children from the bondage of sickle cell ailment.
(NAN)
